Embedded retail system

ABSTRACT

A horizontal structure of components (or disparate business provider entities) for retail sales of merchandise is integrated by a server computer. The plurality of components are capable of collectively performing and completing the sale. Each component can be performed by a plurality of independent businesses, which are integrated or dis-integrated automatically and electronically by an integration engine within the structure on demand by the customer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The invention relates to systems for retail sales of merchandise. Morespecifically, the invention relates to a system for a plurality ofcompanies (or entities) to dynamically enter and leave a component ofthe system. The system further manages a smooth interaction betweencomponents all the while to provide a seamless transparent experience tothe customer while recording participating business entity based on roleand participation inside of the process.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embedded retail system is the experience of fully embedding all coreexperiences of the horizontal retailing experience separately into theweave of social fabric where each process is component-based and can befulfilled by separate business entities in a dynamic and opportunisticfashion defined by situational parameters (availability, logistics, costto deliver) and customer preferences (preferred providers, best offer,best fit). It can be likened to group-sourcing models for inspiration,instigation through completion, and distribution of a retail process.This process further leverages the horizontal or dynamicallycollaborative experience of retailing from a business processperspective. The in-store experience continues to have a fulfillment andedutainment aspect, but retailers can lower holding costs due toinventory as they move more towards the embedded model. Their focuscontinues to shift to customer experience management and customerownership of their own experience.

New and emerging technologies enable this kind of dynamic and autonomicbusiness model through cloud, foundry and orchestration typetechnologies. These technologies enable leverage of available frameworksand ability to dynamically aggregate services on demand and thendissipate or “go-away” or dis-integration. The critical factor is inautomation or orchestration to enable the dynamic assembly of disparatebusinesses and services to be able to act in synch to support a giventransaction of record. The system is able to reassemble on demand andtrack assembly for accountability. The system holds the template of themodel for future transactions, as well. Each entity virtuallyunderstands the resources and terms of interaction for a given dynamictransaction and applied rules force transparency for data sharing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embedded retail system in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of steps performed in carrying out the process ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a system diagram of a computer hardware and software productfor use in implementing portions of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with otherand further objects, advantages, and capabilities thereof, reference ismade to the following disclosure and the appended claims in connectionwith the above-described drawings.

In FIG. 1, there is shown a block diagram of an embedded retail systemin accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Servercomputer 102 provides a horizontal structure for integration of retailcomponents 106, 108, through 110, 112. The structure is shown ashorizontal because that is the natural left to right flow as a customerproceeds through a retail purchasing experience. Components 106-112operate independently but are coordinated by server computer 102.Although FIG. 1 shows components for product selection-106, payment-108,fulfillment-110, and after care-112, other components may be present atany point in the horizontal structure such as denoted by the three dots. . . (ellipses) in FIG. 1 between components 108 and 110. Componentsmay be as described in US Patent Publication US2005/0203784 by Rackham,which shall be incorporated herein by reference, in its entirety for anypurpose. For example, shipping may be included in fulfill component 110,or alternatively a separate shipping component (not shown) may beincluded in the horizontal structure by server computer 102. A paymentcomponent may comprise a system as described in application Ser. No.14/454,361, filed Aug. 7, 2014, which shall be incorporated herein byreference, in its entirety for any purpose.

A consumer may opt to purchase something direct through a socialelectronic environment (e.g., a social website either through direct orembedded access, such as through a media portal or opportunity viewing).A consumer upon deciding to buy a given product may want to select oroutsource the payment option or transaction to some other provider whowill then provide the remit back to the seller. Post-transaction, thebuyer may want to select a specific fulfillment or distribution providerbased on “best fit” options (price, logistics, timing, etc.). Theafter-care service can also be selected in conjunction with or separatefrom the other retail processes.

However the components are structured, these collectively are capable ofperforming a retail sale of a product to a customer. As noted above, thecustomer may use a component at one time, pause, and then proceedhorizontally to the next component on whatever personal schedule isdesired. The customer may go back (left) one or more components, ifdesired, before proceeding horizontally to the right without departingfrom the present invention.

The horizontal structure of FIG. 1 may be embedded within a socialnetwork, thereby providing all of the features of the social networkseamlessly to the customer. For example, the customer may use socialnetworking to evaluate others' experience with the product, or tovalidate product quality.

A plurality of separate businesses provide the function of eachcomponent. For example, businesses 120 provide the selection componentfunction. Businesses 122 provide payment. Businesses 124 providefulfillment. Businesses 126 provide after care.

Integration and dis-integration engine 104 allows a business toautomatically enter a component as a provider or leave in a dynamic,opportunistically and on-demand manner which is transparent to thecustomer. The entity identification includes gateway acknowledgement ofrestrictions and requirements as applicable to participate in the giventransaction event. The businesses are typically independent disparateenterprise entities who desire to provide that component or which theyhave a particular advantage. A business may also at any point in timeprovide more than one component if so entered using integration engine104.

The present invention is a realization that the more embedded oringrained or normalized the transaction experience becomes in oureveryday event experiences (walking down the street, surfing the web,eating dinner, at a public park) and as technology enables the fullycomponentization of core business process events across the experiencecycle—the greater the opportunity to leverage technology toopportunistically and dynamically create an integrated horizontalexperience across varied business provider entities that may havepre-existing relationships that define their collaboration in support ofa retail experience. Each business entity pre-defines parameters thatsupport their best revenue interests both transactional and long-termfor either or both the consumer or business relationship. This flattenedcomponent-based process opens up the field equally for traditional andnon-traditional business entities.

The present invention based on a fully de-centralized componentizedretailing experience where core business process components aresegregated into holistic units. By example, a consumer may conductproduct research and browse through a provider such as Google (Google isa trademark of Google, Inc., of Mountain View, Calif.) or some othersearch agent. A consumer may validate product quality or “fit” throughpeer social ecosystems. A consumer may purchase product through a socialportal or from a retailer who may represent multiple (or a single)vendor or manufacturer. The transaction component may be conductedthrough a separate provider such as PayPal (PayPal is a trademark ofPayPal, Inc. of San Jose, Calif.), mobile wallet provider Lemon, orothers. Fulfillment may be completed via a dedicated service like UPS orother. After care may be offered as a service through another entitysuch as the manufacturer or even a non-manufacturer contracted serviceagent. Each of the businesses therefore can play to their core strengthsand wield their unique brand profile in terms of what they offer.

The present invention offers consumers multiple models that can effectrevenue models for the providers. Two such examples might includeall-in-one pricing where all component provider fees are integrated intothe single consumer-facing price, or consumers may choose to toggleacross providers to manage pricing opportunity as could be impacted byelements of the process; e.g., product availability, product proximityrelative to delivery or delivery or product transfer cost (especially inthe case of pick-up options).

A critical success factor provided by the present invention is theability for business provider entities to be able to dynamically andopportunistically at the point of demand be able to integrate into aholistic horizontal provider suite enabled to meet the consumer requestfrom interest through fulfillment. Research and browse may be able to beheld separate, dependent on the event and preference. This is the samefor after-care services. After-care services may be integrateddynamically in an elongated horizontal retail ecosystem. This isdependent on the crafted opportunity and on the customer preference—morethan likely as impacted by the current purchase.

The present invention has the ability fur business provider entitiesacross the demands of a fully functioning horizontal ecosystem to beable to come together on demand in an integrated seamless customer andbusiness experience. The technology environment is able to enabledynamic integration of technology enabled business process componentsacross: interest generation/creation>>research/browse>>productqualification/review & assessment>>product selection>>productpurchase/transaction>>fulfillment/delivery>>after-care services. Eachoperating business entity (without regard for relative size orrepresentation) is able to see relevant parts of the horizontalexperience and respond and deliver accordingly. Each entity is able tobe compensated according to pre-defined business rules. Each entity isidentified for accountability for relevant business process points ofaction and interaction.

The present invention has opportunistic integration of uniquecomponents. This can be accomplished using dynamic API (Applicationprogramming interface) integration. The opportunity described hereinoffers opportunity for multiple businesses to participate in support andprofit from consumer/business transactions. Accountability is tied toeach process component, such that product accountability is heldseparate from transaction or fulfillment accountability. Given positiveconsumer experiences, individuals may choose certain dynamic ecosystemsto fulfill their transactions providing incentive for a leveled playingfield to be able to accommodate individual preferences.

In FIG. 2, there is shown a flowchart of steps to be performed inpracticing an embodiment of the present invention. In step 202, astructure for integration of retail components is provided. Thestructure is provided by a server computer, such as server computer 102of FIG. 1.

In step 204, a plurality of businesses provide each of the components inthe structure of step 202.

In step 206, a business is allowed to electronically enter or leave acomponent. The business performs the function of the specific component.

In step 208, the components are integrated on demand by the customer.The integration is dynamic and opportunistic as described above.

In step 210, a retail sale is collectively performed for a customerusing the structure of step 202.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of internal components 800 and externalcomponents 900 of a computer 102, in accordance with an illustrativeembodiment of the present invention. It should be appreciated that FIG.3 provides only an illustration of one implementation and does not implyany limitations with regard to the environments in which differentembodiments may be implemented. Many modifications to the depictedenvironments may be made based on design and implementationrequirements.

Computer 102 is representative of any electronic device capable ofexecuting machine-readable program instructions. Computer 102 may berepresentative of a computer system or other electronic devices.Examples of computing systems, environments, and/or configurations thatmay be represented by computer 102 include, but are not limited to,personal computer systems, server computer systems, thin clients, thickclients, laptop devices, smart phones, multiprocessor systems,microprocessor-based systems, network PCs, minicomputer systems, anddistributed cloud computing environments that include any of the abovesystems or devices.

Computer 102 includes a set of internal components 800 and externalcomponents 900. Internal components 800 includes one or more processors820, one or more computer-readable RAMs 822 and one or morecomputer-readable ROMs 824 on one or more buses 826, and one or moreoperating systems 828 and one or more computer-readable tangible storagedevices 830. The one or more operating systems 828, functions incomputer device 110 are stored on one or more of the respectivecomputer-readable tangible storage devices 830 for execution by one ormore of the respective processors 820 via one or more of the respectiveRAMs 822 (which typically include cache memory). In the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 3, each of the computer-readable tangible storagedevices 830 is a magnetic disk storage device of an internal hard drive.Alternatively, each of the computer-readable tangible storage devices830 is a semiconductor storage device such as ROM 824, EPROM, flashmemory or any other computer-readable tangible storage device that canstore a computer program and digital information.

Internal components 800 also includes a R/W drive or interface 832 toread from and write to one or more portable computer-readable tangiblestorage devices 936 such as a CD-ROM, DVD, memory stick, magnetic tape,magnetic disk, optical disk or semiconductor storage device. Functionsin computer 102 can be stored on one or more of the respective portablecomputer-readable tangible storage devices 936, read via the respectiveR/W drive or interface 832 and loaded into the respective hard drive830.

Internal components 800 also includes audio adapters or interfaces 838,such as a sound card, hardware mixer, amplifier, or other adapters orinterfaces for receiving audio signals from microphones.

Internal components 800 also includes network adapters or interfaces 836such as a TCP/IP adapter cards, wireless Wi-Fi interface cards, or 3G or4G wireless interface cards or other wired or wireless communicationlinks. Functions in computer 102 can be downloaded to computer 102 froman external computer via a network (for example, the Internet, Cloud 24,a local area network or other, wide area network) and respective networkadapters or interfaces 836. From the network adapters or interfaces 836.The network may comprise copper wires, optical fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers.

External components 900 can include a computer display monitor 920, akeyboard 930, and a computer mouse 934. External components 900 can alsoinclude touch screens, virtual keyboards, touch pads, pointing devices,and other human interface devices. Internal components 800 includesdevice drivers 840 to interface to computer display monitor 920,keyboard 930 and computer mouse 934. The device drivers 840, R/W driveor interface 832 and network adapter or interface 836 comprise hardwareand software (stored in storage device 830 and/or ROM 824).

Aspects of the present invention have been described with respect toblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustrations of methods, apparatus(system), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer instructions. These computer instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer orother programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The aforementioned programs can be written in any combination of one ormore programming languages, including low-level, high-level,object-oriented or non object-oriented languages, such as Java,Smalltalk, C, and C++. The program code may execute entirely on theuser's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alonesoftware package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remotecomputer, or entirely on a remote computer or server. In the latterscenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computerthrough any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or awide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an externalcomputer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet serviceprovider). Alternatively, the functions of the aforementioned programscan be implemented in whole or in part by computer circuits and otherhardware (not shown).

In some embodiments of the present invention, a processor, as describedin connection with FIG. 3 may be included in server computer 102 orintegration engine 104 or components 106-112 of FIG. 1. The computer ofFIG. 3 may also be used to implement the steps of FIG. 2.

While there have been shown and described what are at present consideredthe preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be madetherein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined bythe appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system, said system comprising: a plurality ofcomponents, wherein the components are sequenced in a predefinedsequential order, wherein a function to be performed is respectivelyassociated with each component; a plurality of businesses, wherein thebusinesses are independent and disparate with respect to each other; aserver computer providing a structure in which the components areintegrated via dynamic application programming interface (API)integration, wherein performance of all of the functions respectivelyassociated with the components collectively implements a retail sale ofa product to a customer in a de-centralized manner via each functionrespectively associated with each component being performed by a uniquebusiness of the plurality of businesses, wherein the plurality ofcomponents are coordinated by server computer, and wherein performance,in the predefined sequential order of the components, of all of thefunctions respectively associated with the components implements theretail sale of the product to the customer; and an integration anddis-integration engine coupled to the server computer, wherein theintegration and dis-integration engine permits each business todynamically, electronically and automatically enter and leave acomponent of said components in an on-demand manner which is transparentto the customer and which is based on pre-defined parameters thatsupport revenue interests of both the consumer and each business that isentering or leaving the component, wherein the components are visible toeach business which enables each business to respond and deliverperformance of the function associated with each component in theon-demand manner accordingly, and wherein the server computer and theintegration and dis-integration engine provide a technology environmentthat dynamically integrates technology enabled business processes of thebusinesses that dynamically, electronically and automatically enter andleave the components integrated in the structure provided by the servercomputer; and wherein the technology enabled business processes aredynamically integrated during implementation of the retail sale toperform, in the predefined sequential order of the components, all ofthe functions respectively associated with the components.
 2. The systemof claim 1, wherein the structure is embedded within a social network.3. A method, said method comprising: providing, by a server computer, astructure in which components of a plurality of components areintegrated via dynamic application programming interface (API)integration, wherein the components are sequenced in a predefinedsequential order, wherein a function to be performed is respectivelyassociated with each component, wherein performance of all of thefunctions respectively associated with the components collectivelyimplements a retail sale of a product to a customer in a de-centralizedmanner via each function respectively associated with each componentbeing performed by a unique business of a plurality of businesses,wherein the businesses are independent and disparate with respect toeach other, wherein the plurality of components are coordinated byserver computer, and wherein performance, in the predefined sequentialorder of the components, of all of the functions respectively associatedwith the components implements the retail sale of the product to thecustomer; permitting, by an integration and dis-integration enginecoupled to the server computer, each business to dynamically,electronically and automatically enter and leave a component of saidcomponents in an on-demand manner which is transparent to the customerand which is based on pre-defined parameters that support revenueinterests of both the consumer and each business that is entering orleaving the component, wherein the components are visible to eachbusiness which enables each business to respond and deliver performanceof the function associated with each component in the on-demand manneraccordingly, and wherein the server computer and the integration anddis-integration engine provide a technology environment that dynamicallyintegrates technology enabled business processes of the businesses thatdynamically, electronically and automatically enter and leave thecomponents integrated in the structure provided by the server computer;and dynamically integrating the technology enabled business processesduring implementation of the retail sale to perform, in the predefinedsequential order of the components, all of the functions respectivelyassociated with the components.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein thestructure is embedded within a social network.
 5. A computer programproduct, comprising one or more computer readable hardware storagedevices having computer readable program code stored therein, saidprogram code containing instructions executable by one or moreprocessors to implement a method, said method comprising: providing, bya server computer, a structure in which components of a plurality ofcomponents are integrated via dynamic application programming interface(API) integration, wherein the components are sequenced in a predefinedsequential order, wherein a function to be performed is respectivelyassociated with each component, wherein performance of all of thefunctions respectively associated with the components collectivelyimplements a retail sale of a product to a customer in a de-centralizedmanner via each function respectively associated with each componentbeing performed by a unique business of a plurality of businesses,wherein the businesses are independent and disparate with respect toeach other, wherein the plurality of components are coordinated byserver computer, and wherein performance, in the predefined sequentialorder of the components, of all of the functions respectively associatedwith the components implements the retail sale of the product to thecustomer; permitting, by an integration and dis-integration enginecoupled to the server computer, each business to dynamically,electronically and automatically enter and leave a component of saidcomponents in an on-demand manner which is transparent to the customerand which is based on pre-defined parameters that support revenueinterests of both the consumer and each business that is entering orleaving the component, wherein the components are visible to eachbusiness which enables each business to respond and deliver performanceof the function associated with each component in the on-demand manneraccordingly, and wherein the server computer and the integration anddis-integration engine provide a technology environment that dynamicallyintegrates technology enabled business processes of the businesses thatdynamically, electronically and automatically enter and leave thecomponents integrated in the structure provided by the server computer;and dynamically integrating the technology enabled business processesduring implementation of the retail sale to perform, in the predefinedsequential order of the components, all of the functions respectivelyassociated with the components.
 6. The computer program product of claim5, wherein the structure is embedded within a social network.